About John Jordan Violins

Find the Violin. . .

From traditional to modern, John Jordan's instruments appeal to both ends of the spectrum. Traditionalists love his gorgeous wood choices and artistic craftsmanship, while modernists flip over the wild design and inspiring shape. The physical reference points are there for ease of transition from your acoustic, and violin tone is authentic, with your choice of bridges. Shop our selection of Jordan violins here.

Classic Woodworkers Pose

Design

Jordans are among the most beautiful electric violins made. The shape is simple and elegant, with plenty of interesting angles and shapes that you can sit and admire should you ever have it in your lap waiting for your turn to play!

Ergonomics

By eliminating the scroll, the violin's weight is concentrated right over the attached shoulder pad (it will never fall off!). The included case is modified to close safely with the shoulder pad on. You will like the terraced placement of the geared tuners, behind the bridge: near where you expect your fine tuners to be, yet they are easier to find, and do both fine and coarse tuning. The volume control is on the end of the body - right where you want it for fast adjustments.

Amazingly Ergonomic?

Colors

Jordan's painted bodies range from deep gloss black and glistening pearlescent white, through the "harlequin" color change paint, to any custom finish to match your imagination! He is also justly famous for his stunning exotic woods, each a unique work of musical art.

Tone

Although every John Jordan violin sounds good, there is no specific Jordan "sound." This is because he installs several different bridges. Our favorites are from Ashworth and Barbera. Choice of wood does not influence the tone in a discernable way, but choice of strings can make some difference. Install any strings you like the feel of, and the tone should please you as well. Responsiveness varies with string type - steel strings like Helicore respond faster, while perlon ones like Evah Pirazzi feel more like a concert violin.

Way Beyond Five!

5-Strings and Beyond

A 5-string Jordan violin plays almost as easily as a 4-string - the bridge angle is absolutely correct for playing on the inner strings. But yes, it takes some re-learning because the G string is no longer at the bottom of the bridge curve. If you intend to play mostly classical music, we usually recommend staying with 4 strings to eliminate any confusion as you switch between acoustic and electric. If wilder styles are appealing, consider the 6- or 7-string violins. They are only a little harder to get used to than a 5-string, but allow you to dip all the way down to the cello register (and back) quickly and easily.

Technical Highlights, Versatility, Compatibility

Very high quality geared tuners (in several colors and peghead styles).

Same reference points as an acoustic violin (except for the upper bout, which is an option), so switching from an acoustic to an electric instrument requires no special adjustment.

Suitable for classical music, and for every fiddling style imaginable.

Sounds good with almost all amplifiers, although it is always best to consult with us to match your playing needs.

Future Fiddles

Value/Investment Potential

Given the unique nature of every Jordan violin, your resale value should be strong, especially if you keep it in new condition by wiping it carefully after each playing. His combination of careful craftsmanship, exotic woods and great tone is currently keeping him busier than he has ever been. Custom orders presently average 4 to 6 months.

The Inside Scoop

As the number one dealer of Jordan Violins in the world, Electric Violin Shop is in a unique position to inform you in choosing an instrument to enhance your playing. Our relationship with John involves long discussions about what rare woods he has found. His violins are carved from a solid block of wood, unlike most makers who laminate a thin layer of striking veneer over a plainer base wood. Since John needs just over 2 inches of wood thickness, it is much harder for him to find suitable stock. During the five years that it takes for his average wood to age, he has plenty of time to consider how best to cut the block to best show the wood's figure in relation to the final shape.

The Artist & His Creation

We feel privileged every time we consult with a player to create their dream violin - we'll help you consider your choices based on what we've seen over the years. We usually have several Jordan violins in stock, should you need one immediately!

The photos on this page were taken by EVS founder Blaise Kielar during a wonderful visit to John Jordan's shop in California. Click on any thumbnail to see a larger, more-detailed image.